Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday expressed concern over worsening air quality in Lucknow after the fourth T20 International between India and South Africa was abandoned due to poor visibility at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Yadav said the disruption was caused not by fog but by smog, claiming that air pollution from Delhi had spread to the Uttar Pradesh capital. He linked the deteriorating air quality to the cancellation of the international cricket fixture.
“The pollution of Delhi has now reached Lucknow. This is not fog but smog. That is why the international match is not being played here,” Yadav wrote, describing the situation as a sign of worsening environmental conditions.
Yadav also criticised the state government, alleging that green spaces developed to preserve Lucknow’s air quality were being compromised. He accused the ruling BJP of neglecting environmental concerns while organising large-scale events in the city’s parks.
Concerns over air quality were echoed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who also commented on the abandoned match. In a separate post on X, Tharoor pointed out that the air quality index (AQI) in Lucknow had reportedly reached 411, severely affecting visibility.
“Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the match to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog across north Indian cities, visibility is too poor for a game of cricket,” Tharoor said. He suggested that the fixture could have been scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram, where air quality levels were significantly better.
India vs South Africa T20I called off
The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was officially abandoned on Wednesday night without a ball being bowled. The toss, scheduled for 6:30 pm IST, was delayed as a thick layer of smog enveloped the stadium.
After multiple inspections and more than three hours of waiting, match officials concluded that conditions were unsafe for play. The umpires eventually called off the match at around 9:30 pm, citing persistently poor visibility.
The incident has intensified discussions around air pollution in north Indian cities and raised questions about scheduling major sporting events during winter months, when smog and low visibility frequently disrupt outdoor activities.
